Krishna Poonia may join Congress

P J Joychen, Jaipur, Aug 12, 2013, DHNS:

The Congress is wooing discus thrower and noted sportsperson Krishna Poonia into the partyfold to give a fitting reply to the BJP, which pulled off a smart deal by inducting ace shooter and Olympic silver medalist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore into the party during the Suraj Sankalp Yatra on September 10.

According to Congress sources, Krishna Poonia would be joining the party at a function in the state attended by none other than Sonia Gandhi. While Rathore, who hails from Jaisalmer district in Rajasthan, belongs to Rajput community, Poonia, a Jat (originally from Haryana) is married to Virender Singh Poonia in Churu district.

Congress sources said Poonia will help the party to reap more political dividends. They said Poonia will help to tilt the Jat community, which is divided between the Congress and the BJP at present, in the party’s favour.

Poonia, a Padmashri awardee, is the first Indian woman athlete to win a Gold Medal in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. She led the historic clean sweep of the discus throw event by clearing 61.5 meters. She is the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in track and field events of Commonwealth Games and the first Indian to win a gold medal in such events after Milkha Singh who had won gold in Men’s 440 yards race in the 1958 Cardiff Commonwealth Games.

Krishna Poonia recently hit headlines following allegations that her name was overlooked by the selection committee for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the highest sports award.

Talking to Deccan Herald over phone, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress president Chandrabhan said, “The Congress is the oldest and the biggest political organisation and anybody can join it.”

Chandrabhan, however, said he could not say anything at present as he was outstation. Efforts to contact Poonia proved futile.